There must be a tremendous amount of profit for vendors of Medicare Advantage Plans!

[ShokWaveRider]

Based on the amount of Ads on TV during Enrollment Season, that do not come cheap. There must be a big kickback to Agents/Services that pay for them.

Let alone the cost of Joe Namath's and Danny Glover's Fees!

Same goes got Carshield and other Car insurance programs (That Clark Howard and most of the smart money advises against)

If the insurance companies channeled that money in our healthcare cost and quality, it would make for a better healthcare world.

Really Grinds my Gears.... Sorry. Other than the fact I am sick of Joe Namath's whiney voice.

 

[aja8888]

Based on the amount of Ads on TV during Enrollment Season, that do not come cheap. There must be a big kickback to Agents/Services that pay for them.

Let alone the cost of Joe Namath's and Danny Glover's Fees!

Same goes got Carshield and other Car insurance programs (That Clark Howard and most of the smart money advises against)

If the insurance companies channeled that money in our healthcare cost and quality, it would make for a better healthcare world.

Really Grinds my Gears.... Sorry. Other than the fact I am sick of Joe Namath's whiney voice.

I have a friend who sells these and other policies...yes, they are lucrative for him and the insurer.

 

[FDC319]

I too am sick of Joe Namath and Medicare ads. Jeesh--do we need a Medicare ad every 15 minutes for the last 45? ish days. grrr

 

[ShokWaveRider]

If we just eliminated the MiddlePerson life would be great. Redistribution of wealth just seems inefficient.

 

[MRG]

I'll be glad to not see Joe for a while.

 

[flyingaway]

Do you really get additional benefits (free dental, free vision, free meal, etc.) often with low or no premiums?

Did you save thousands of dollars and $144 added back to your social security checks every month by using their plans?

 

[Gotadimple]

It is lucrative for the insurance company if they are willing to take a chance. The deal with Medicare is that Medicare will pay them an annual fee equal to about 90% of the taxes and premiums collected (Part A + Part B + Part D) - for each enrollee. The insurance company is betting it can deliver care for less than what the government pays out under its traditional plans. If it can, it keeps the difference, if it can't, it has to pay to cover the costs. With one exception: hospice care.

Funding comes from the Medicare Trusts: Medicare Taxes, Part B and Part D premiums plus any premium for Medicare Advantage an insurer may charge.

Smaller carriers move in and out of Medicare Advantage - because their experience may not be as good as they thought it would be, and they can't operate within the Medicare payments they receive. So, that's why there is an annual enrollment period and why insurers try to get as many members enrolled as they can.

- Rita

 

[gauss]

.... Sorry. Other than the fact I am sick of Joe Namath's whiney voice.

".. But you might not get the new bay-nee-fits...."

Sorry - Couldn't resist.

 

[Gotadimple]

Do you really get additional benefits (free dental, free vision, free meal, etc.) often with low or no premiums?

Did you save thousands of dollars and $144 added back to your social security checks every month by using their plans?

The Part B $144 is given to the insurer to pay for your claims. It is never given back. Many Med Advantage plans offer vision, and dental without a co-pay but it is basic coverage.

Can you save thousands of dollars? Sure over Traditional Medicare without a Medicare Supplement. There is a large up front deductible, and everything is paid at 80% of the Medicare allowed amount. So hospitalization can be quite expensive without Med Sup or Med Advantage.

- Rita

 

[flyingaway]

The Part B $144 is given to the insurer to pay for your claims. It is never given back. Many Med Advantage plans offer vision, and dental without a co-pay but it is basic coverage.

Can you save thousands of dollars? Sure over Traditional Medicare without a Medicare Supplement. There is a large up front deductible, and everything is paid at 80% of the Medicare allowed amount. So hospitalization can be quite expensive without Med Sup or Med Advantage.

- Rita

Do you get Medicare Supplement insurance with no premium?

 

[aja8888]

Do you get Medicare Supplement insurance with no premium?

No, Med Sup insurance is not Medicare Advantage. Much different. Different programs.

 

[Time2]

I have a neighbor that works receiving calls about medicare benefits. I ask her about the commercials touting $0 copays, free dental, free rides, etc, etc, she says some of that is true... but you must also be on Medicaid for those benefits touted.
I thought there was a reason I pay premiums of $336.50 a month!

 

[ShokWaveRider]

AND..... What is it with people and Testimonials from other folks they have never seen, met or heard about? Do these advertisers think we are stupid? Maybe so.

 

[Gotadimple]

AND..... What is it with people and Testimonials from other folks they have never seen, met or heard about? Do these advertisers think we are stupid? Maybe so.

Beyond that, these advertisements have to be approved by Medicare before they can be aired, printed, or sent by snailmail. Your government is here to help you!

- Rita

 

[Car-Guy]

The Part B $144 is given to the insurer to pay for your claims.

So for us that get "stuck" paying two or three times more than the "standard" $144 monthly rate, (a.k.a. IRMAA) does the insurer get the extra money or does the government keep it?


If they don't, I wonder where that money actually goes? NNTR

 

[ShokWaveRider]

Thank our lucky stars TODAY is the LAST DAY we should be exposed to these ads.... hopefully.

 

[H2ODude]

I approach those ads with the old saw that in general you get what you pay for. Or, in the case of these plans offered, you'll be denied the benefits you otherwise would have been entitled to at a time when you really need them.

 

[Car-Guy]

Based on the amount of Ads on TV during Enrollment Season, that do not come cheap. There must be a big kickback to Agents/Services that pay for them.

Let alone the cost of Joe Namath's

Could be worse, much worse... What if it were Joe Buck and his obnoxious mindless babble doing the commercials?

If the insurance companies channeled that money in our healthcare cost and quality, it would make for a better healthcare world.

Now you are dreaming....That ain't going to happen!

 

[JoeWras]

Thank our lucky stars TODAY is the LAST DAY we should be exposed to these ads.... hopefully.

And they will promptly be replaced with commercials with treatments for:
- Diabetes
- Psoriasis
- Bowel disorders
- Bipolar illness

 

[bigcmagor]

And they will promptly be replaced with commercials with treatments for:
- Diabetes
- Psoriasis
- Bowel disorders
- Bipolar illness

Don't forget Pillows and Peyronie's disease.

 

[Amethyst]

My particular hate of these ads is the smarmy use of "the coverage You Deserve!" As if Medicare were somehow depriving people of something to which they are entitled.

Other than the fact I am sick of Joe Namath's whiney voice.

 

[Car-Guy]

And they will promptly be replaced with commercials with treatments for:
- Diabetes
- Psoriasis
- Bowel disorders
- Bipolar illness

Well after seeing your post, I must change my opinion from my earlier post #18 above... Joe Buck could probably sell bowel disorder treatments... He is certainly has plenty of what it takes.

 

[Amethyst]

The actors for the testimonials are such vanilla-looking and sounding Old White People, I hate to think that's how advertisers see me (although I know it is).

I want to see testimonials from edgy-looking people. I think I'd trust those more.

AND..... What is it with people and Testimonials from other folks they have never seen, met or heard about? Do these advertisers think we are stupid? Maybe so.

 

[blueskyk]

OMG, my tribe...I thought I was the only one deeply offended by the manipulative nature of these ads!
DH and I dive for the remote to mute Joe

 

[Golden sunsets]

Do you really get additional benefits (free dental, free vision, free meal, etc.) often with low or no premiums?

Did you save thousands of dollars and $144 added back to your social security checks every month by using their plans?

Ditto. My thoughts exactly. If it sounds too good to be true, then it is too good to be true. Medicare base premiums are only 148.50 a month. It makes no sense that an advantage plan would cover more than Medicare, cost 0 and rebate most or all of the Part B premium. I've been assuming that the adds are bait and switch for vulnerable seniors, whose mental acuity may not be what it used to be.